Missing man recovered in waters off Key Biscayne

Man jumped in water after boat broke free at Nixon Beach dock ​

KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. – Officials say they have recovered the man who disappeared when he and a friend jumped in the water to save a boat from drifting away off Key Biscayne.

A group of 16 people set out for some fun on the water Sunday afternoon in two rented boats, but things took a turn for the worse when one of the boats got stuck.

The people on the vessels were inexperienced so they panicked and decided to go ahead and start pulling the anchor on one of the vessels. The anchor came off with no problem, but the other boat got stuck. That's when two men jumped into the water to help dislodge the other boat, only to find themselves in distress.

"The wind started getting worse on the water and the current got worse," Florida Fish and Wildlife Officer Lorenzo Veloz said. "At that time one of the vessels returned with a rope and was able to get one of the persons back on that vessel."

One of the boaters managed to swim back to the boat, but the other one never made it.

"When they went back for the other person they couldn't see him anymore and they lost him," Veloz said.

FWC, the U.S. Coast Guard and several other agency's assisted in Sunday night's search for the missing man. 

Officials said the man 30's was found late Sunday night. They say he was not wearing a life vest.

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About the Author:

Dawn Jorgenson, Graham Media Group Branded Content Managing Editor, began working with the group in April 2013. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in electronic media.